Craig Parry – Interview

I was walking down the streets of Lennox Head, searching for something interesting to do when I popped into your Craig Parry Photography Gallery with my friend Emilie. She already talked to me about some amazing shots of yours … and this day with no waves were perfect to check this out, indeed

After 30minutes (at least) looking around, discovering landscapes or underwater pictures through your own eyes and being amazed by your talent, I eventually asked you for an interview to be published on my TripSurfeuse’s Blog. You seemed both very surprise of my inquiry and very happy to answer any of my questions… Thank you very much Craig for giving me a little bit of your time.

Avec Craig Parry à Lennox Head

Your age: 33

Started photography: 8yrs old

Inspiration: The Ocean

Book/Song/Movie: The Alchemist / Ben Harper « Walk away » / Endless Summer

Best picture (of yours &/or anybody else): My favourite is Shell Swirl … I’m inspired by a photographer called Peter Lik.

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/CraigParryPhoto

Website: www.craigparry.com.au

Contact: info@craigparry.com.au

Twitter: CraigParryPhoto

TripSurfeuse: You’ve been taking pictures since you’re eight years old and turned into professional six years ago. What is the story about Craig Parry, Photographer from your first water camera & 35mm up to your current Canon digital (1D Mark 4) & Del Mar water housing?

Craig Parry: My 2 biggest influences were my father and National Geographic. My father loves photography and every birthday i used to get a disposable water camera that i played with in my swimming pool. I would always spend ages checking out the pictures from National Geographic dreaming of one day doing that as a job!

I was living in Switzerland in 2008 and some of my friends there are professional Ski/Snowboard photographers. They gave me direction and motivation to get my work in a gallery, So when I returned from Switzerland I opened up Craig Parry Photography Gallery, Its been very hard work but its rewarding and It doesn’t feel like a job! I’m excited about the next few years as I have some great new ideas of images. AND I’m excited about my new camera gear!

Craig Parry dans sa Photography Gallery

Your work is a lot about waves, beach style landscapes, and surfers as if surfing is another passion of yours. I reckon you’ve been riding waves and trip surfing around the world for a long time … is it your biggest inspiration?

Absolutely I want to document my travels, it’s a classic how excited I get over taking images in clear water. When I travel my camera is my best friend and so is the ocean.

Surf & Crystal Clear Water... Craig Parry Photography

You live in Lennox Head, a little town close to Byron Bay in Australia. Lennox and Byron are ones of the most famous world class waves but they’re also home town of a big surf art community … And more than that, surfing is so big in your country and emerging so fast all around the world, is it difficult to compete with such a huge concurrence or even deal with the surf business in order to get famous?

It is pretty difficult but if it’s your passion to succeed in your business and the fundamentals of your business are grounded than not much can stop you, you have to be different and innovative in your field of choice!

Owen Wright, famous Australian Surfer by Craig Parry

There is this article taken from newspaper and this bottle of wine in your gallery revealing that you won an award for this amazing picture with a dolphin jumping on top of a wave and a surfer next to it looking at the beauty… Please, tell me more…

Well the image was taken 2 years ago I was the official photographer for the surfing competition, which was held in Byron Bay. I was watch the dolphins come through on these sets all day and was determined to capture them. A wave came through in the finals of the event and I could see the dolphins chasing the wave all of a sudden they started to leap out of the wave I focused on them and started to take images after the 4th image I had got the shot! The dolphin was completely out of the water and the surfer was in the same frame I love this image because it’s so balanced.

The Award Winning ! By Craig Parry Photography

But surf-style picture is not the only thing you’re interested in: you work on wedding, real estate, commercial, portrait… and you also create short movies. Is there a big difference between taking pictures and making videos? And is there any chance for you to turn professionally into movies instead of photography?

Photography is my passion. Video work is great but I get more of a connection with my photography. I love the fact you can freeze a moment in time and appreciate it over and over again.

Shells Whirl Perfect by Craig Parry Photography

Cheers, Craig. Your work is beautiful and that was a real pleasure to meet you. Some of my friends are gonna be jealous! Anything else to tell French people?

Always leave your heart and mind open to inspiration.